Explorer.exe application - what is it? Why gives an error and how to fix it?

Turning on the computer, do you often think about the operating principles of the operating system that is installed on it? Surely not. Meanwhile, you need to know at least some things. For example, for most users, Explorer is associated exclusively with one browser, while there is a much more important system utility - Explorer.exe. What is it and what is it for?

This article is devoted to the disclosure of these issues. This is very important, since your knowledge of working with Windows operating systems depends on basic knowledge.

Basic concepts

The Explorer program (explorer.exe) is a file manager for Windows operating systems. With it, we can see the graphic structure of directories and files, move around disks, create, rename, delete and copy documents.

Appearance story

Once upon a time there was not even a single “Guide”. If you find DOS, remember the blinking cursor on the command line. It was the command line then that replaced everything: both the mouse cursor and the file manager ... Of course, the convenience when working with such an interface left much to be desired, so the programmers very soon started looking for alternatives. Moreover, by that time hardware already allowed to display a graphical interface.

It was from those times that file managers like Norton or Commander Wolves remained. They consumed a minimal amount of computer resources, worked very fast, and the number of errors was negligible. That's just the convenience for users was still very relative: it was necessary to memorize a lot of text commands, and not everyone liked working with keyboard shortcuts. And then Explorer appeared.

In its classic representation, the "Explorer" consists of two parts: left and right. On the left, all available disks and libraries are presented in a tree-like form. Please note: if there are subfolders in the directory, a small “+” sign can be seen next to it.

Submission of folders and documents

If you click on this icon, the folder will open, providing all its components for review. To collapse it again, left-click on the “-” icon. However, to familiarize yourself with the content, just look at the right panel, in which it will be displayed for the folder that is currently active.

If you used Windows at least once, you know about the icons for designating directories: they are presented in the form of yellow stylized images of paper folders, while file icons depend on the application with which they are associated in Explorer.exe. What does it mean? Simply put, a .doc document will most likely be presented as a Microsoft Office icon.

The main governing bodies

Looking at the heading of the file manager, you will see the name of the folder or specific document with which the user is currently working. Below it is a menu bar from which you can control the "Explorer". At the bottom there is a status bar.

Context Menu Commands and Hot Keys

Let's look at all the basic operations that are available directly from the Explorer.exe utility window. What is it, we already know.

Create a new folder or document

To perform this action, simply right-click on any free space in the right pane of the "Explorer", and then select the command you need in the context menu that opens.

Copy

To perform this action, simply right-click on any directory or file, and then select "Copy" from the menu. In addition, you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + C, after selecting the desired object with the left mouse button.

Moving

This is a type of copying, but the document in this case is completely transferred to a new location. To do this, you need to right-click on the file, select “Cut” in the context menu, and then do the same in the destination directory, choosing the “Paste” command. The same thing happens when using the "hot keys" Ctrl + X and Ctrl + C.

Rename

Right-click on a folder or file, select “Rename”, and then enter a new name. Please note that some characters cannot be used when renaming. Do not worry: they will all be indicated as a hint in case of some forbidden symbol.

Delete

Also click on the file or folder with the right mouse button, click on the “Delete” option. In addition, you can select an object by clicking on it with the left button, and then click on the Delete button on the keyboard.

Errors of the "Explorer"

Like any file manager, Microsoft products are not perfect. In fairness, it should be noted that she issues errors very rarely. The most common of them is the termination of the "Explorer" and its subsequent reboot.

What is the reason for this disgrace? As a rule, viruses are to blame for everything. They hit the system files of the OS, as a result of which it starts to behave not too adequately. The fight is simple: scan your computer with any of the free healing tools available on the Internet . We recommend using programs from Doctor Web or Kaspersky, which in some cases can even cure the Explorer.exe file.

System File Recovery

It makes sense to use the sfc / scannow command. To do this, click on the "Start" button, and in the "Search" field, write CMD. A window with the found files will open on the right side, in which you need to right-click on the file of the same name (CMD), selecting "Run as administrator".

In the opened window of the command line emulation terminal, enter the sfc / scannow command. After that, the system will independently scan its most important areas, restoring them if necessary. Of course, the Explorer.exe application in this case will also be brought to a healthy state.

In addition, Explorer sometimes crashes due to compatibility issues between old OSs and some new versions of programs. If you have XP, try installing all the latest service packs, and then make sure there is a problem or not. If the error began to appear immediately after installing some application, it is better to remove it. As a rule, the installation of the old version, which may be more stable on a particular system, often helps.

Important to remember

Windows Explorer.exe errors are often involved in device and program drivers. Remember if you installed a new graphics card or other hardware just before the operating system crashed. If the answer is yes, we recommend that you remove the device drivers that came with it on the disk and install them using the Windows Update service.

When the desired program is found on the Microsoft website, it will be installed automatically. And if she was not there? Then you have to go to the device manufacturer’s website and write technical support about your problem. Again, it often happens that the error completely disappears after installing the old version of the drivers.

Of course, some not very important hardware functions may suffer (or performance will decrease slightly), but this is still better than a broken system, in which the Explorer.exe error continually appears.

A little more about compatibility

By the way, when talking about programs, we mentioned compatibility. How to check such a mysterious and important feature of some fresh version of the utility?

To do this, it’s worth visiting the manufacturer’s website again: in any case, there should be information about which versions of Windows support their application. Keep in mind that new software releases no longer support XP or work with it in limited mode. This is especially true of modern browsers, some of the functions of which simply cannot be implemented on older systems. As a result, internal failures leading to (including) Explorer.exe errors. What does it mean? Alas, in this case, you will either have to change the Internet browser, or finally upgrade to a newer version of the operating system itself with an improved Explorer.exe. The application error in this case will immediately disappear. In addition, malware protection has been significantly improved in the new Windows family of OSs, so you will also be reliably spared from malware attacks.